System and method for network coupled cloud gaming

ABSTRACT

Embodiments of the claimed subject matter provide systems and methods for configuring and connecting a controller to a game streaming service. The system includes a plurality of input controls and a network controller configured for communicating with a game streaming service. The system further includes a processor coupled to the plurality of input controls and the network controller. The processor is configured communicate with the game streaming service to login to a game streaming service account and communicate input from the plurality of controls to the game streaming service. The system further includes a power source configured to provide power to the plurality of input controls, the network controller, and the processor.

RELATED U.S. APPLICATIONS

This application is related to the non-provisional patent application,Ser. No. 14/092,872, entitled “METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CLOUD BASEDVIRTUALIZED GRAPHICS PROCESSING FOR REMOTE DISPLAYS,” with filing dateNov. 27, 2013, which is hereby incorporated by reference in itsentirety.

This application is related to the non-provisional patent application,Ser. No. 14/092,818, entitled “HANDHELD GAMING CONSOLE,” with filingdate Nov. 27, 2013, which is hereby incorporated by reference in itsentirety.

This application is related to the non-provisional patent application,Ser. No. 13/727,357, entitled “VIRTUALIZED GRAPHICS PROCESSING FORREMOTE DISPLAY,” with filing date Dec. 26, 2012, which is herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention are generally related to cloudbased applications and gaming.

BACKGROUND

As technology has advanced, computers have become increasingly fasterand more capable of performing a variety of executing a variety ofprograms. One popular category of programs is gaming. Games have becomeincreasingly advanced with higher resolution graphics demandingincreasing advanced hardware. Conventional gaming systems involve a gameconsole that is connected to a television for outputting video from thegame and one or more controllers connected the game console. Given theadvanced nature of modern gaming, game controllers and in particular,game console hardware is increasingly expensive to manufacture andpurchase.

SUMMARY

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in asimplified form that are further described below in the DetailedDescription. This Summary is not intended to identify key features oressential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended tobe used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.

A need has arisen for a solution that allows game playing without theneed to manufacture or purchase of individual expensive game consolehardware.

Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention reduce the cost ofaccessing game streaming services by removing the need for separatehardware for running a game streaming client. Embodiments include aninternet connectable controller that is connected to a user's localnetwork and thereby connected to the Internet and game streamingservice. The game can then be streamed independently to an Internetconnected display logged into the game streaming service without theneed for a game console. For instance, the game can be independentlystreamed to a television, a tablet, a phone, or other display devicethat is capable of executing a game streaming client.

One embodiment of the present invention is directed to a system. Thesystem includes a plurality of input controls and a network controllerconfigured for communicating with a game streaming service. The networkcontroller can be configured for receiving game feedback informationfrom the game streaming service. The system further includes a processorcoupled to the plurality of input controls and the network controller.The processor is configured communicate with the game streaming serviceto login to a game streaming service account and communicate input fromthe plurality of controls to the game streaming service. The systemfurther includes a power source configured to provide power to theplurality of input controls, the network controller, and the processor.In some embodiments, the system is configured to communicate with thegame streaming service without a gaming console.

The system can further include an audio interface configured forreceiving input audio and outputting audio. The audio interface can beconfigured for coupling of at least one of a headset and a pair ofheadphones. The system can further include a memory for storinginformation associated with the game streaming service account and oneor more networks. The system is further configured for receiving networkinformation (e.g., network configuration information) to communicatewith the game streaming service from a device comprising a display.

Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to a method ofcontrolling a game. The method includes connecting a controller to awireless access point. The wireless access point is communicativelycoupled to a game streaming service. The method further includes sendinggame streaming service account information from the controller to thegame streaming service and sending a selection of a game of the gamestreaming service. The method further includes receiving an input at thecontroller and sending the input from the controller via the wirelessaccess point to the game streaming service. In some embodiments, theinput comprises a button press on the controller. The method can furtherinclude receiving a voice command and sending the voice command to thegame streaming service.

The method can further include sending an indicator indicating whetheran audio device is coupled to the controller. The indicator indicateswhether at least one of a headset or a pair of headphones are coupled tothe controller. The method can further include receiving audioinformation in response the indicator and outputting the audioinformation to the audio device coupled to the controller. The audioinformation can be an individualized audio stream associated with thecontroller.

The method can further include connecting to a wireless network havingan identifier matching a default network name and receiving networkinformation associated with the wireless access point. The method canfurther include receiving the game streaming service account informationand disconnecting from the wireless network having the identifiermatching the default network name.

Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to a method forstreaming a game. The method includes receiving account information fora game streaming service from a display device via a network connectionand receiving game streaming service account information from acontroller. The method further includes receiving a selection of a gameof the game streaming service from the controller, executing the game,and sending output of the game to the display device via the networkconnection. In some embodiments, the game streaming service accountinformation from the controller is sent from the controller to awireless access point.

The method can further include receiving an input from the controllerand sending a result of the input to the display device. The result cancomprise include one or more images. The method can include sending anindividualized audio stream to the controller. In some embodiments, thedisplay device is an Internet connected television.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are incorporated in and form a part of thisspecification. The drawings illustrate embodiments. Together with thedescription, the drawings serve to explain the principles of theembodiments:

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary operating environment of a cloud based gamingsystem.

FIG. 2 shows exemplary operating environment of game streaming servicewith controllers and a display device coupled thereto, in accordancewith various embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows an exemplary operating environment with multiple locations,in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows exemplary communications for configuring a controller, inaccordance with various embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows exemplary components of a controller in accordance withvarious embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows exemplary components of a display device in accordance withvarious embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows an exemplary controller implemented process for configuringa controller and controlling a game, in accordance with variousembodiments.

FIG. 8 shows an exemplary computer implemented process for streaming agame, in accordance with various embodiments.

FIG. 9 shows an exemplary process for configuring a controller, inaccordance with various embodiments.

FIG. 10 shows a computer system in accordance with various embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the claimedsubject matter, a system and method for network coupled cloud gaming,examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Whilethe claimed subject matter will be described in conjunction with thepreferred embodiments, it will be understood that they are not intendedto limit these embodiments. On the contrary, the claimed subject matteris intended to cover alternatives, modifications and equivalents, whichmay be included within the spirit and scope as defined by the appendedclaims.

Furthermore, in the following detailed descriptions of embodiments ofthe claimed subject matter, numerous specific details are set forth inorder to provide a thorough understanding of the claimed subject matter.However, it will be recognized by one of ordinary skill in the art thatthe claimed subject matter may be practiced without these specificdetails. In other instances, well known methods, procedures, components,and circuits have not been described in detail as not to obscureunnecessarily aspects of the claimed subject matter.

Some portions of the detailed descriptions which follow are presented interms of procedures, steps, logic blocks, processing, and other symbolicrepresentations of operations on data bits that can be performed oncomputer memory. These descriptions and representations are the meansused by those skilled in the data processing arts to most effectivelyconvey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art. Aprocedure, computer generated step, logic block, process, etc., is here,and generally, conceived to be a self-consistent sequence of steps orinstructions leading to a desired result. The steps are those requiringphysical manipulations of physical quantities. Usually, though notnecessarily, these quantities take the form of electrical or magneticsignals capable of being stored, transferred, combined, compared, andotherwise manipulated in a computer system. It has proven convenient attimes, principally for reasons of common usage, to refer to thesesignals as bits, values, elements, symbols, characters, terms, numbers,or the like.

It should be borne in mind, however, that all of these and similar termsare to be associated with the appropriate physical quantities and aremerely convenient labels applied to these quantities. Unlessspecifically stated otherwise as apparent from the followingdiscussions, it is appreciated that throughout the present claimedsubject matter, discussions utilizing terms such as “storing,”“creating,” “generating,” “protecting,” “receiving,” “sending,”“determining,” “selecting,” “initiating,” “mapping,” “translating,”“accessing,” “writing,” or the like, refer to the action and processesof a computer system or integrated circuit, or similar electroniccomputing device, including an embedded system, that manipulates andtransforms data represented as physical (electronic) quantities withinthe computer system's registers and memories into other data similarlyrepresented as physical quantities within the computer system memoriesor registers or other such information storage, transmission or displaydevices.

System and Method for Network Coupled Gaming

Embodiments of the present invention reduce the cost of accessing gamestreaming services by removing the need for separate hardware forrunning a game streaming client. Embodiments include an internetconnectable controller that is connected to a user's local network andthereby connected to the Internet and game streaming service. The gamecan then be streamed independently to an Internet connected displaylogged into the game streaming service without the need for a gameconsole. For instance, the game can be independently streamed to atelevision, a tablet, a phone, or other display device that is capableof executing a game streaming client.

Embodiments of the present invention lower the latency between the userand the gaming service. Having the controller directly connected to theuser's network eliminates the extra step of a processing by a localgaming console thereby reducing user input latency, audio input/outputlatency, and physical controller feedback latency.

Further, problems with audio routing and the limits of audiocapabilities of the Operating System (OS) of the game console areeliminated. With a controller directly connected to the game streamingservice, the handling of audio routing can be performed by the morecapable game streaming service systems. Further, the user controller canbe tied together with the audio streams so the input and output audiostreams can be tailored to each individual user.

Embodiments are described with respect to a game streaming service butthis is exemplary only and embodiments may be used with any gamingsystem, cloud based gaming, or type of application or content.

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary operating environment of a cloud based gamingsystem. FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary operating environment 100 with gamecontrollers that communicate with local gaming console which sendsinformation from the game controllers to a cloud based gaming system150. The exemplary operating environment 100 includes game controllers102 a-b, a gaming tablet 104, a gaming console 110, a display device112, a router 120, a wireless access point 122, and the cloud basedgaming system 150.

The game controller 102 a is a wireless game controller that iswirelessly connected to the gaming tablet 104. The tablet 104 iswirelessly connected to the wireless access point 122. The wirelessaccess point 122 is connected to the router 120. The wireless accesspoint 122 may be integrated into the router 120 or vice versa.

The game controller 102 b is a wireless game controller that iswirelessly connected to the gaming console 110. The game controller 102b may be connected to the gaming console 110 by a wired connection. Thegaming console 110 is connected to the router 120. The gaming console110 is further connected to a display device 112. The display device 112may be a television, monitor, etc.

The router 120 is connected to the cloud based gaming system 150 via theInternet. The tablet 104 and the gaming console 110 execute a gameclient which communicates with the cloud based gaming system 150. Therouter 120 routes communications between respective game streamingclients executing on the table 104 and the gaming console 110 and thegame streaming server 150.

A user can start up a cloud based game through the tablet 104. The gameexecutes on the cloud based gaming system 150 and output of the game issent and displayed on a display screen of the tablet 104. The tablet 104receives input from the user via the game controller 102 a.

Alternatively, a user can start up the game client through the gamingconsole 110. The game executes in the cloud based gaming system 150 andthe output of the game is sent and displayed on a display screen of thedisplay device 112. The gaming console 110 receives input from the uservia the game controller 102 b.

The controllers 102 a-b send button presses to the tablet 104 or thegaming console 110, both of which are executing respective game clients.Each game client then repackages the respective button press informationand sends to the respective repackaged information to the cloud basedgaming system 150. The game client also receives audio and otherfeedback (e.g., rumble information for vibrating the controller asdirected by the game), repackages the information and sends it to theappropriate gaming controller. In both directions, the data isrepackaged by the game client and then sent to the cloud based gamingsystem 150 or a controller thereby adding latency to the communication.Thus, the tablet 104 and the game console 110 add latency tocommunications to and from the game steaming service 150.

The tablet 104 and the gaming console 110 can have a simple audio inputand audio output device, for instance, supporting only a single inputand output audio stream. This may create problems when multipleaudio-enabled controllers are used. For example, if multiple audiostreams should be directed to/from the multiple controllers, the gameclient needs to be capable of routing the audio to/from the correctcontroller. Such capability and the associate complexity are beyond theabilities of the hardware and software of the game client.

FIGS. 2-6 illustrate example components used by various embodiments ofthe present invention. Although specific components are disclosed inFIGS. 2-6, it should be appreciated that such components are exemplary.That is, embodiments are well suited to having various other componentsor variations of the components recited in 2-6. It is appreciated thatthe components in FIGS. 2-6 may operate with other components than thosepresented, and that not all of the components of FIGS. 2-6 are requiredto practice embodiments of the present invention as described herein.

FIG. 2 shows an exemplary operating environment of a game streamingservice with controllers and a display device coupled thereto, inaccordance with various embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 2depicts an exemplary operating environment 200 with game controllersthat communicate with a wireless access point and a game streamingservice 250. The exemplary operating environment 200 includes gamecontrollers 202 a-b, a display device 212, a router 220, a wirelessaccess point 222, the game streaming service 250, and a game streamingserver 260.

The game controller 202 a is a wireless game controller that iswirelessly connected to the wireless access point 222. In someembodiments, the game controller 202 a may be coupled to the wirelessaccess point 222 or the router 220 by a wired connection (e.g.,Ethernet). The wireless access point 222 is communicatively coupled tothe router 220. In some embodiments, the wireless access point 222 isintegrated into the router 220 or vice versa.

The game controller 202 b is a wireless game controller that iswirelessly connected to the wireless access point 222. The gamecontroller 202 b may be coupled to the wireless access point 222 or therouter 220 by a wired connection (e.g., Ethernet). The controllers 202a-b may further have respective audio interfaces (e.g., audio inputjacks, Bluetooth modules, etc.) configured for coupling of respectivemicrophones, headsets, headphones, etc.

The game controllers 202 a-b are configured for communicating with thegame streaming service 250 without the need for repackaging ofrespective button information, audio information, and feedbackinformation. The game controllers 202 a-b are thus able to communicatecontroller information (e.g., button information, audio information, andfeedback information) to the game streaming service 250 independent of atablet (e.g., the tablet 104) or a gaming console (e.g., the gamingconsole 110). The game controllers 202 a-b have improved responsivenessbecause the controller 202 a-b communicate with the game streamingservice 250 without the latency added by an intermediate device (e.g.,the tablet 104 or the gaming console 110).

The display device 212 is coupled to the router 220. The display device212 may be a television (TV), projector, monitor, etc. The displaydevice 212 may include one or more speakers and/or audio jacks foroutputting audio. The display device 212 may also have a microphoneand/or one or more audio jacks for audio input.

The display device 212 is configured for accessing and communicatingwith one or more types of networks (e.g., wired and/or wireless) and isconfigured for executing a game streaming client for the displaying anddecoding of video and audio from the game streaming service 250. Thedisplay device 212 may execute a game streaming client which allowsusers to login to the game streaming service 250 to view the videooutput and/or hear audio output of a game. The display device 212 isfurther configured for allowing one or more users to log into the gamestreaming service 250. After the one or more users have logged into thegame streaming service 250, the appropriate video and audio streams aresent to the display device 212. For example, if two users are loggedinto the game streaming service 250 via the display device 212, the gamestreaming service 250 sends split screen video and associated audio tothe display device 212. The game streaming client executing on thedisplay device 212 thus can display visual and audio feedback of thecommands issued by the controllers 202 a-b. The responsiveness of thevideo and audio is thus enhanced because the latency of having the videoprocessed by an intermediate device (e.g., the game console 110) isremoved. The game streaming server 260 may handle execution of the gamefor the game streaming service 250. The game streaming server 260 andthe game streaming client executing on the display device 212 maycommunicate through a customized protocol designed for the low latencycommunication between the display device 212 and the game streamingserver 260.

In some embodiments, the display device 212 may be a mobile device,e.g., a smartphone or a tablet, thereby allowing a user to play a gamewith the controller 202 a at any location of the user's choosing, e.g.,a coffee shop, library, etc.

The router 220 is coupled to the game streaming service 250 by one ormore networks, including the Internet. The router 220 routescommunications between the game streaming client executing on thedisplay device 212 and the game streaming server 250. The router 120further routes communications to and from the controllers 202 a-b andthe game streaming server 250.

Respective users of the controllers 202 a-b login the controllers 202a-b into the game streaming service 250, as described below. The usersfurther log into their respective accounts on the game streaming server250 via the display device 212. The controllers 202 a-b can then be usedto select a game to be played via the display device 212. During thegame play, button information and/or audio information from thecontrollers 202 a-b is sent to the game streaming service 250 where thegame is executing and the video and/or audio (e.g., encoded video and/oraudio) output of the game is sent the display device 212 for output. Thegame streaming service 250 further determines any feedback, for instancetactile feedback like rumble or vibration feedback, based on buttoninformation and/or audio information which is sent to the controllers202 a-b, e.g., when a player's car crashes in the game.

The game streaming service 250 includes one or more of a game streamingserver 260. Embodiments of the present invention include the gamestreaming server 260 configured to communicate directly with thecontrollers 202 a-b and the display device 212, e.g., withoutcommunicating through a gaming console (e.g., the gaming console 110).For example, each of the controllers 202 a-b send individual packets tothe game streaming server 206 instead of the communications from thegame controllers 202 a-b going to a gaming console (e.g., the gamingconsole 110) and then to the game streaming server 260. The gamestreaming server 260 and the game controllers 202 a-b may communicatethrough a customized protocol designed for the low latency communicationbetween the controllers 202 a-b and the game streaming server 260.

FIG. 3 shows an exemplary operating environment with multiple locations,in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 3depicts a game being played using a game streaming service 350 atlocations 370-380 and associated audio routing.

Controllers 302 a-b, a headset 324, a wireless access point 322 adisplay device 312, and a router 320 are located at location 370. Acontroller 392, a headset 390, a wireless access point 394, a displaydevice 396, and a router 398 are located at location 380. The wirelessaccess points 322 and 394, the routers 320 and 398, the display devices312 and 396, and the controllers 302 a-b and 392 can operate in asubstantially similar manner as similar elements as described above.

The headset 324 is coupled to the controller 302 a. The headset 390 iscoupled to the controller 392. The headsets 324 and 392 may be coupledto the controllers 302 a and 392 via a wireless connection (e.g.,Bluetooth) or wired connection (e.g., a Universal Serial Bus (USB)connection). The headsets 324 and 392 allow respective users to hearaudio output from a game running on the game streaming service 350. Theheadsets 324 and 392 further allow respective users to talk to eachother or other players via respective microphones and give voicecommands to the game running on the game streaming service 350.

The game streaming service 350 supports the playing of a game amongmultiple users that may be at one or more locations. The locations 370and 380 may be different houses, places of business, dormitories,convention centers, etc. Locations 307 and 380 may be geographicallyclose (e.g., on the same block or street) or distant (e.g., acrosscountry or across the planet).

The respective users of the controllers 302 a-b login to the gamestreaming service 350 with the display device 312 (e.g., using atelevision remote control) and configure their respective controllers302 a-b for communicating with the game streaming service 350 asdescribed with respect to FIG. 4. For example, the user of thecontroller 392 logs into the game streaming service 350 with displaydevice 396 and configures the controller 392 for communicating with thegame streaming service 350 as described with respect to FIG. 4. Therespective users of the controllers 302 a-b and 390 further log intotheir game streaming accounts of the game streaming service 350 withtheir respective controllers.

The game streaming service 350 further supports individual audio streamsfor each player. The controllers 302 a-b and 392 support sending one ormore respective indicators and/or information to the game streamingservice 350 that a respective audio device, e.g., a headset, headphones, a microphone, etc., is coupled to the respective controller. Forexample, the indicator may indicate whether headphones only are coupledto the controller, whether microphone only is coupled to the controller,or both headphones and microphone of a headset are coupled to thecontroller.

A game streaming server 360 of the game streaming service 350 receivesthe indicators of audio devices coupled to the controller. The gamestreaming server 360 determines, based on the respective indicators ofthe audio devices coupled to the controllers, how and where audiostreams will be routed.

Some operating systems, e.g., the Android operating system, availablefrom Google, Inc., of Mountain View, Calif., are designed around havinga single audio input and audio output. For example, if four users areplaying a racing game that is displayed on a single television and indifferent parts of the tracks, the television will be sent an audiomashup or combination of the four respective audio tracks. In contrast,having one controller for each of the four players, each with respectiveaudio jacks and respective communication with the game streaming service350, allows for a personalized audio experience. For example, if playerone is coming up behind player three, player one will hear the audio ofplayer three coming up behind player one. Similarly, player three canhear the audio of player one being in front of player three instead ofthe audio streams being combined together. As such, if a gaming console(e.g., the game console 110) runs the Android operating system, anassociated game service will combine all of the audio streams into asingle stream and the gaming console will not have the opportunity orability to split up the audio streams.

The game streaming server 360 (and thereby the game streaming service350) is configured to send individual audio streams for each respectivecontroller and each display device. Each of the controllers 302 a-b and392 and the display devices 312 and 396 may support audio input andoutput.

As shown in FIG. 3, the controllers 302 a and 392 have coupled headsets324 and 394, respectively, and transmit indicators that headsets arecoupled thereto to the game streaming service 350. The game streamingserver 360 can then determine that individual respective audio streamsare to be sent to the controllers 302 a and 394. If both controllers 302a-b did not have coupled headsets, the audio sent to the display device330 would be a combined audio output of each of the respective audiostreams.

In some embodiments, due to the headset 390 being coupled to thecontroller 392, the game streaming server 360 determines that an audiostream does not need to be sent to the display device 396. The videostream of the game may thus be sent to the display device 396 without anaudio stream. This allows the player using the controller 392 to playwithout disturbing other people at the location 380 because the audiostream for the controller 392 is through the headset 390 and not out ofthe speakers of the display device 396.

The controller 302 b transmits an indicator that there is not a headsetor other audio device coupled to the controller 302 b. Based on theindicator from the controller 302 b, the game streaming server 360determines that the audio stream associated with the controller 302 bshould be sent to the display device 312. The display device 312 thenoutputs the audio stream as audio 330, e.g., out of one or morespeakers. In some embodiments, the display device 312 may be sent acombined audio stream.

It is appreciated that if there was an audio device coupled to thecontroller 302 b, the game streaming server 360 could have the audiostream for the controller 302 b sent to the controller 302 b instead ofthe display device 312. This would thereby allow the players of the gameat the location 370 to play without disturbing others because the audiostreams for each of the controllers 302 a-b would be going throughrespective coupled headsets and there could be no audio output ofspeakers of the display device 312.

Based on the audio device indicators, the game streaming service 350 canfurther support voice input from the controllers 302 a-b and 392. Forexample, the game streaming service 350 can listen to the respectivemicrophone audio streams from the controllers 320 a and 392 for audio orvoice commands. If the display device 312 has a microphone coupledthereto, the game streaming service 350 can receive audio or voicecommands from the user of the controller 302 b. Based on the voicecommands, the game streaming server 360 can determine to change thedisplay output sent to the display devices 312 and 396. For example, ifthe user of the controller 302 a says the command “map,” the gamestreaming server 360 may analyze and perform voice recognition and inresponse update the portion of the video displayed on the display device312 for the controller 302 a to display a map while the portion of videodisplayed for the controller 302 b continues to show the game. Asanother example, the user of controller 302 a could say the command“infrared mode,” and the portion of the video displayed on the displaydevice 312 for the controller 302 a would be updated to show heatsignatures of the characters of the game.

In some embodiments, the audio jacks of a controller may be used to senda voice based password to the game streaming service 350. For example,the user of the controller 302 a may provide a voice print passwordwhich is authenticated by the game streaming service 350 prior toaccepting commands to enter a game from the controller 302 a. This canadd a layer of security to the controller and prevent unauthorizedaccess to the account associated with the controller.

During game play, the game streaming server 360 may also determinetactile feedback for the controllers 302 a-b and 392. For example, basedon a car hitting a wall that is being controlled with the controllers302 a, the streaming gaming server 360 can determine and send a rumblesignal which is sent to the controller 302 a to vibrate the controller302 a.

FIG. 4 shows exemplary communications for configuring a controller, inaccordance with various embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 4depicts an exemplary communication sequence for configuring a controller402 to communicate with a game streaming service 450. The controller 402may be configured using a device 410, e.g., a smartphone, tablet,computer, etc., or via a voice commands from a user 420.

In some embodiments, the controller 402 is configured (e.g., by default)to search for a default controller configuration Wi-Fi network, e.g.,with a Service Set Identifier (SSID) of “Controller Network Setup,”under certain conditions. The controller 402 may search for the defaultcontroller configuration Wi-Fi network in response to a user pressing anetwork configuration button, a reset button, or other buttoncombination. In some embodiments, the controller 402 may search for thedefault controller configuration Wi-Fi network when no known network ifis found. A network configuration module 404 configures the controller402 to connect to the default network or a local network based onreceived network information, as described herein.

A user downloads an application 414 to a data store 412 of the device410 (e.g., cellphone, tablet, computer, etc.) which when executedconfigures the device 410 to act as a wireless access point for a Wi-Finetwork with a default network name 450, e.g., with an SSID of“Controller Network Setup.” The device 410 broadcasts the defaultnetwork name 450 and associated information for allowing a controller toconnect to the wireless network setup by the device 410.

The controller 402 recognizes the default network name 450 and sendsinformation to connect to default network 452. In response to aconnection with the controller 402, the application 414 presents theuser with one or more screens and input fields for configuring thecontroller 402. In some embodiments, the controller 402 is coupled tothe device via a wired connection, e.g., USB. The application 414 allowsthe user to enter network configuration information (e.g., network nameor SSID), wireless key or password, Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol(DHCP) or static Internet Protocol (IP) address information, subnet,gateway, etc., and game account or game streaming service accountinformation (e.g., login and password). In some embodiments, theapplication 414 presents the user with a list of networks visible to thedevice 410 and prompts the user for a password to be used by thecontroller 402 to access a selected network. If the user is at abusiness (e.g., a coffee shop or hotel), the application 414 may be usedto accept any license agreements that are necessary for the controller402 to access the local network of the business.

The network configuration and game streaming service account information454 is then sent to the controller 402. The network configuration module404 configures the controller 402 based on the received the networkconfiguration and game streaming service account information. Thenetwork configuration module 404 stores the network configuration andlogin information 454 in the configuration storage module 408. Theconfiguration storage module 408 may be used by the controller 402 toaccess to networks that have previously been accessed by the controller402.

If connected to the default configuration network, upon configuringitself the controller 402 can disconnect from the default configurationnetwork and connect to network associated with the network configurationinformation. In response to connecting the local network based on thenetwork configuration information, the controller 402 connects to andlogs into the game streaming service associated with the game streamingaccount information (e.g., the game streaming service 250). For example,a user may use his or her cell phone, when at a friend's house, toconfigure his or her controller to access the friend's local wirelessnetwork.

In some embodiments, the network configuration information can include aMedia Access Control (MAC) address (e.g., the MAC address of the devicebeing used to configure the device) that the controller 402 is to usefor communicating with the network specified in the networkconfiguration information. This use of the provided MAC address by thecontroller 402 can handle situations, e.g., in a hotel, where a user islimited in the number of devices he or she can connect to a localnetwork.

In some embodiments, the network configuration information and/or gamestreaming account information can be input into the controller 402 withvoice commands using voice recognition. For example, a user could plugin a headset into the controller 402, push a configuration button (e.g.,or reset configuration button) and be provided voice prompts 460 fromthe voice prompt configuration module 410. The user can respond byproviding voice responses including a wireless network SSID, wirelesspassword, and game streaming account information. Based on the voiceresponses 462, the voice prompt configuration module 410 performs voicerecognition and provides the output to the network configuration module404 which then configures the controller 4021. Voice recognition maythus be used in place of the application 414 executing on the device 410coupled to the controller 402.

FIG. 5 shows exemplary components of a controller in accordance withvarious embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 5 depicts exemplarycomponents of a controller supporting audio input and output, tactilefeedback, button input, and direct communication with a network and agame streaming service (e.g., the game streaming service 250). Thecontroller 500 is thus able to take advantage of the lower latenciesavailable through the direct network and Internet connection.

FIG. 5 further depicts the components of an exemplary controller inaccordance with embodiments of the present invention providing theexecution platform for certain hardware-based and software-basedfunctionality. Although specific components are disclosed in controller500, it should be appreciated that such components are examples. Thatis, embodiments of the present invention are well suited to havingvarious other components or variations of the components recited incontroller 500. It is appreciated that the components in controller 500may operate with other components other than those presented, and thatnot all of the components of controller 500 may be required to achievethe goals of controller 500.

The controller 500 includes a storage 502, a network controller (NC)504, a memory 506, an input module 508, a processing unit 510, an audiointerface 512, a communications bus 530, and a power source 520. Thepower source 520 provides power to controller 500 and may be a DC or ACpower source. The communications bus 530 communicatively couples thecomponents of controller 500.

The processing unit 510 and the NC 504 can be integrated into a singleintegrated circuit die and processing unit 510 and NC 504 may sharevarious resources, such as instruction logic, buffers, functional unitsand so on, or separate resources may be provided for processing andgeneral-purpose operations. In some embodiments, the processing unit 510and/or the NC 504 may be programmable circuits or processors, e.g., afield-programmable gate array (FPGA). Some embodiments may comprise afirmware update that is configured to allow the controller 500 tocommunicate with a game streaming service via the NC 504 (e.g., via awireless access point and the Internet) instead of with a gaming console(e.g., the gaming console 110). The firmware update would thus enable acontroller to communicate with a wireless network instead of a gamingconsole. The firmware may allow the controller to search for theaforementioned default controller network configuration Wi-Fi network.

The storage 502 is configured for storing game streaming service logininformation, network information, and/or software for execution on thecontroller 500. The storage 502 may include non-volatile memory andfurther be configured to download firmware or microcode for updating theprocessing unit 510 and/or the NC 504. The storage 502 can includestorage for storing a list of known or previously configuredcommunication networks. For example, the storage 502 may include a listof SSID and key pairs and network settings (e.g., DHCP settings) ofwireless networks that the controller has been configured to access.This thereby allows the controller 500 to access the communicationnetworks with associated information in the storage 502 whenever thecontroller is in range of the communication networks.

The network controller (NC) 504 is coupled to communications bus 530 andis configured for communication with one or more pieces of networkequipment including a wireless access point (e.g., the wireless accesspoint 222 and a game streaming service (e.g., the game streaming service250). It is appreciated that the network controller 504 in combinationwith other components are configured for communicating with a gamestreaming service (e.g., the game streaming service 250) without theneed for a gaming console (e.g., the game console 110). The networkcontroller 504 may use the memory 506 in order to send and receivecommunications and/or provide received data to other components of thecontroller 500.

The input module 508 allows entry of user commands into controller 500which may include, but are not limited to, one or more buttons, one ormore joysticks, one or more navigation pads, one or more directionalpads, keyboards (e.g., QWERTY), up/down buttons, left/right buttons,trigger buttons, select buttons, mode buttons, and the like.

The processing unit 510 receives commands via input module 508 and mayreceive audio via the audio interface 512. In some embodiments, theprocessing unit 510 is a Central Processing Unit (CPU). The processingunit 510 can control a variety of operations including, but not limitedto, voice recognition, voice processing, and sending voice commands forprocessing (e.g., by the game streaming service 250), receiving andsending commands from the input module 508, handling communications witha game streaming service via the network controller 504, configurationof the network controller 504 for communication with the game streamingservice, and logging into a game streaming service. The processing unit510 can use the memory 506 in order to perform or carry out theaforementioned functions and/or operations.

The audio interface 512 is configured for coupling audio equipmentincluding, but not limited to, a headset, headphones, a microphone, etc.The audio interface 512 may provide received voice commands or voiceinput to processing unit 510 and output game audio to a headset orheadphones. It is appreciated that audio interface 512 may output toaudio equipment integrated within controller 500, e.g., an integratedspeaker.

FIG. 6 shows exemplary components of a display device in accordance withvarious embodiments of the present invention. Although specificcomponents are disclosed in a display device 600 it should beappreciated that such components are examples. That is, embodiments ofthe present invention are well suited to having various other componentsor variations of the components recited in display device 600. It isappreciated that the components in display device 600 may operate withother components than other those presented, and that not all of thecomponents of display device 600 may be required to achieve the goals ofdisplay device 600. It is appreciated that embodiments of display device600 include a variety of internet capable display devices, including butnot limited to televisions, Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) displays, computermonitors, Liquid Crystal Displays (LCDs), plasma displays, projectiondisplays, projectors, etc.

FIG. 6 depicts an exemplary display device and associated components.The display device 600 includes a content receiver 602, a displaycontroller 604, a memory 606, a command processor 608, a processing unit610, an audio controller 612, a display screen 614, and a networkcontroller (NC) 616. The communications bus 630 communicatively couplesthe components of the display device 600.

The content receiver 602 receives content for display by the device 600.The content receiver 602 may receive signals including content from avariety of sources including, but not limited to, computers, computernetworks, portable devices, set top boxes, over the air broadcasts,cable broadcasts, satellite broadcasts, Digital versatile Discs (DVDs),Blu-ray discs, Digital Video Broadcasting—Handheld (DVB-H), DigitalMultimedia Broadcasting (DMB), Digital Video Broadcasting Satelliteservices to Handhelds (DVB-SH), Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB),Digital Video Broadcasting IP Datacasting (DVB-IPDC), and InternetProtocol Television (IPTV), etc.

The display controller 604 controls the display screen 614 of thedisplay device 600. The display screen 614 can be a CRT, a LCD, a plasmadisplay, projection based display, and a Digital Light Processing (DLP)display, etc., configured for output of video and/or images (e.g., inconjunction with audio controller 612).

The memory 606 can be volatile or non-volatile memory used by variouscomponents of the display device 600. The memory 606 can be used by thenetwork controller 616 in order to send and receive communicationsand/or provide received data to other components of the controller 500.The memory 606 can be used by the processing unit 510 in order toperform or carry out the aforementioned functions and/or operations, andexecute a game streaming client for displaying game output andoutputting game audio.

The command module 608 receives commands (e.g., via a remote control).The command module 608 may receive commands via a variety of receiversincluding, but not limited to, infrared receivers and radio frequencyreceivers. The commands may have been issued via remote control (e.g.,infrared) and can be used to configure the display device 600 for accessto one or more networks, including the Internet, and a game streamingservice (e.g., account information associated with the game streamingservice 250).

The processing unit 610 is configured for executing an application forconfiguring access to a game streaming service including logging intothe game streaming service and outputting audio and video associatedwith a game being played by the game streaming service. In someembodiments, the application executed by the processing unit 610 isconfigured to decode and output audio and video streamed from a gamestreaming service (e.g., the game streaming service 250).

Audio controller 612 controls audio output for display device 600including a variety of outputs including, but not limited to, 2, 2.1,3.1, 5.1, 6.1, 7.1, and 8.1 channel audio. The audio content may bereceived via content receiver 602 and/or the network controller 616 froma game streaming service (e.g., the game streaming service 250). It isappreciated that audio controller 612 may output to audio equipmentintegrated within display device 600.

The storage 618 is configured for storing game streaming service account(e.g., login and password) information, network information, and/orsoftware for execution on the display device 600. The storage 618 isconfigured for storing an application for logging into the gamestreaming service and outputting audio and video associated with a gamebeing played by the game streaming service. The storage 618 may benon-volatile memory and further be configured to download firmware ormicrocode for updating the processing unit 610 and/or the NC 616. Thestorage 618 can include storage for storing a list of known orpreviously configured communication networks which can be used toautomate connection thereto.

The network controller (NC) 616 is coupled to communications bus 530 andis configured for communication with one or more networks (e.g., awireless network or wired network) and a game streaming service (e.g.,the game streaming service 250). It is appreciated that the networkcontroller 616 in combination with other components are configured forreceiving and outputting audio and video associated with a gamestreaming service (e.g., the game streaming service 250) without theneed for a gaming console (e.g., the gaming console 110). The networkcontroller 616 may use the memory 606 in order to send and receivecommunications and/or provide received data to other components of thedisplay device 600.

The processing unit 610 and the NC 616 can be integrated into a singleintegrated circuit die and processing unit 610 and NC 616 may sharevarious resources, such as instruction logic, buffers, functional unitsand so on, or separate resources may be provided for video and/or audioprocessing and general-purpose operations. In some embodiments, theprocessing unit 610 and/or the NC 616 may be programmable circuits orprocessors, e.g., a field-programmable gate array (FPGA).

With reference to FIGS. 7-9, flowcharts 700-900 illustrate examplefunctions used by various embodiments for a controller directlycommunicating with a game streaming service, as described herein.Although specific function blocks (“blocks”) are disclosed in flowcharts700-900, such steps are exemplary. That is, embodiments are well suitedto performing various other blocks or variations of the blocks recitedin flowcharts 700-900. It is appreciated that the blocks in flowcharts700-900 can be performed in an order different than presented, and thatnot all of the blocks in flowcharts 700-900 need be performed.

FIG. 7 shows an exemplary controller implemented process for configuringa controller and controlling a game, in accordance with variousembodiments. FIG. 7 depicts a process 700 during which a controller isconfigured, connected to a game streaming service, and a game islaunched and played.

At block 702, a wireless network is connected to having an identifiermatching a default network name, by a controller. As described herein,the controller may automatically connect to a wireless network setup bya device, e.g., smartphone, tablet, or computer, configured to functionas a wireless access point.

At block 704, network information associated with a wireless accesspoint is received. The network information can be received from thedevice after a user is prompted for the network information, asdescribed herein.

At block 706, account information is received. The account informationcan be game streaming account information received from the device aftera user was prompted for account information, as described herein.

At block 708, the wireless network having the identifier matching thedefault network name is disconnected from by the controller. Thecontroller can disconnect from the wireless network having theidentifier matching the default network name in order to reconfigure itsnetwork settings based on the received network information, as describedherein.

At block 710, the controller connects to the wireless access point(e.g., the wireless access point 222). The wireless account point iscommunicatively coupled to one or more networks, including the Internet,and the game streaming service (e.g., the game streaming service 250),as described herein.

At block 712, the game streaming service account information is sentfrom the controller to the game streaming service. As described herein,the game streaming service account information is sent from thecontroller to the game streaming service without a gaming console (e.g.,the gaming console 110).

At block 714, a game selection is sent to the game streaming service. Asdescribed herein, the controller can be used to select a game from thegame streaming service to be launched, via the controller and a displaydevice (e.g., the display device 212).

At block 716, whether an audio device is coupled to the controller isdetermined. As described herein, a controller can detect whether anaudio device, e.g., a headset or headphones, is coupled to an audiointerface or jack of the controller. If an audio device is detected,block 718 can be performed. If an audio device is not detected, blocks724 or 728 may be performed.

At block 718, an indicator indicating that an audio device is coupledthe controller is sent. The indicator can further indicate the type ofaudio device, e.g., headset or headphones, and the capabilities of theaudio device, e.g., recording ability using a microphone, as describedherein.

At block 720, audio information is received in response to theindicator, as described herein. The audio information can be anindividualized audio stream for the game character associated with thecontroller. For example, the individualized audio stream may include ascreeching sounds of a car that is being controlled with the controller.

At block 722, the audio information is output to the audio devicecoupled to the controller. For example, the audio information can beoutput to headphones of a headset.

At block 724, an input is received at the controller. The input may abutton press, joystick information, etc., from a user, as describedherein.

At block 726, the input received at the controller is sent via thewireless access point to the game streaming service. As describedherein, the input from a user is sent to the game streaming service tocontrol a character or other aspect of the game executing that is on thegame streaming service.

At block 728, a voice command is received. The voice command may bereceived via a microphone, e.g., of a headset, coupled to thecontroller, as described herein. Blocks 724 and/or 728 may then beperformed as further input is received during the playing of the game.

At block 730, the voice command is sent to the game streaming service.The game streaming service can then respond to the voice command bymanipulating a character and/or updating images and/or video that aresent to the display device. Blocks 724 and/or 728 may then be performedas further input is received during the playing of the game.

FIG. 8 shows an exemplary computer implemented process for streaming agame, in accordance with various embodiments. FIG. 8 depicts a process800 of streaming a game to a display device and receiving input from acontroller connected to a network, as described herein. The displaydevice and the controller are each individually logged into the gamestreaming service. The process 800 may be performed by one or morecomputing systems of a game streaming service (e.g., the game streamingservice 250).

At block 802, account information for a game streaming service isreceived from a display device via network connection. The displaydevice may be an internet connected and capable television or projector,as described herein. The account information may be received at a gamestreaming server (e.g., game streaming server 260).

At block 804, game streaming account information is received from acontroller. The game streaming account information can be received fromthe controller after the controller has received account information andnetwork information, as described herein.

At block 806, one or more a game selection screens are sent. The displaydevice may be sent video and/or images to allow a user to navigate usingthe controller to select a game, as described herein.

At block 808, a selection of a game of the game streaming service isreceived from the controller. The selection can be based on input fromthe controller being used to select a game displayed on the displaydevice, as described herein.

At block 810, the game is executed. In response to the selection of thegame, the game is executed or launched on the game streaming service, asdescribed herein.

At block 812, output the game is sent to the display device via thenetwork connection. The output of the game is streamed from the gamestreaming service to the display device, as described herein.

At block 814, whether an audio device is coupled to a controller isdetermined. The determination can be based on whether the controllersends an indicator that an audio device, e.g., headset or headphones,are coupled to the controller. If an audio device is coupled to thecontroller, block 816 is performed. If an audio device is not coupled tothe controller, block 818 is performed.

At block 816, an individualized audio stream is sent to the controller.The individualized audio stream can be sent including audio only for theuser using the controller and be for output through the headset orheadphones coupled to the controller.

At block 818, an audio stream is sent to the display device. If thereare more than two or more players playing the game, the audio stream maybe a combined stream, as described herein. It is appreciated thatcombined audio and individualized audio can be sent to one or morelocations, as described herein.

At block 820, an input is received from the controller. The input can befrom a button, joystick, voice command, etc., from a controller, asdescribed herein, and received at a game streaming server.

At block 822, a result of the input is sent to the display device. Thegame streaming server can send the result of the input, e.g., a gamecharacter moving, to the display device for display to a user.

FIG. 9 shows an exemplary process for configuring a controller, inaccordance with various embodiments. FIG. 9 depicts of process 900 ofconfiguring network and game streaming service account information on acontroller with another device (e.g., smartphone, tablet, computer,etc.). In some embodiments, a first portion of process 900 may beperformed by a smartphone and a second portion performed by acontroller.

At block 902, an application is executed. The application can bedownloaded or loaded onto a smartphone, tablet, computer, or the likeand executed, as described herein.

At block 904, a local Wi-Fi network is configured. The local Wi-Finetwork can be configured for a smartphone, tablet, computer, or thelike to act as a wireless access point, as described herein.

At block 906, Wi-Fi network information is broadcast. The Wi-Fiinformation that is broadcast can include a default SSID of “ControllerConfiguration Network,” as described herein.

At block 908, the controller recognizes the Wi-Fi network. In someembodiments, the controller can recognize the Wi-Fi network based on theWi-Fi network having a default SSID of “Controller ConfigurationNetwork,” as described herein.

At block 910, the controller is connected. The controller can connect tothe Wi-Fi network with the default SSID of “Controller ConfigurationNetwork,” as described herein. In some embodiments, blocks 910 and 914may be performed over a wired connection (e.g., USB).

At block 912, prompts for account information and network informationare presented. For example, a screen of a smartphone, a tablet, acomputer, or the like may display a form with one or more fields for auser to enter or select account information associated with a gamestreaming service and network information associated with a localnetwork communicatively coupled with a game streaming service.

At block 914, the account information and the network information aresent to the controller. The account information and the networkinformation can be sent to the controller over a wireless or wiredconnection, as described herein.

At block 916, the controller disconnects from the local Wi-Fi network.The controller can disconnect from the default controller configurationnetwork in order to configure itself for coupling to a local networkcommunicatively coupled to the game streaming service, as describedherein.

At block 918, the controller configures its network controller. Thecontroller configures itself for coupling to a local networkcommunicatively coupled to the game streaming service, as describedherein.

At block 920, the controller connects to a local network based on thenetwork information. This allows the controller to then connect to thegame streaming service, send the account information to the gamestreaming service, and launch a game.

FIG. 10 shows exemplary computer system 1000 in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention. Computer system 1000 depicts thecomponents of a generic computer system in accordance with embodimentsof the present invention providing the execution platform for certainhardware-based and software-based functionality. In some embodiments, agame streaming service (e.g., the game streaming service 250) includesone or more of exemplary computer system 1000. In general, computersystem 1000 comprises at least one CPU 1001, a system memory 1015, andat least one graphics processor unit (GPU) 1010. The CPU 1001 can becoupled to the system memory 1015 via a bridge component/memorycontroller (not shown) or can be directly coupled to the system memory1015 via a memory controller (not shown) internal to the CPU 1001. TheGPU 1010 may be coupled to a display 1012. One or more additional GPUscan optionally be coupled to system 1000 to further increase itscomputational power. The GPU(s) 1010 is coupled to the CPU 1001 and thesystem memory 1015. The GPU 1010 can be implemented as a discretecomponent, a discrete graphics card designed to couple to the computersystem 1000 via a connector (e.g., AGP slot, PCI-Express slot, etc.), adiscrete integrated circuit die (e.g., mounted directly on amotherboard), or as an integrated GPU included within the integratedcircuit die of a computer system chipset component (not shown).Additionally, a local graphics memory 1014 can be included for the GPU1010 for high bandwidth graphics data storage.

The CPU 1001 and the GPU 1010 can also be integrated into a singleintegrated circuit die and the CPU and GPU may share various resources,such as instruction logic, buffers, functional units and so on, orseparate resources may be provided for graphics and general-purposeoperations. The GPU may further be integrated into a core logiccomponent. Accordingly, any or all the circuits and/or functionalitydescribed herein as being associated with the GPU 1010 can also beimplemented in, and performed by, a suitably equipped CPU 1001.Additionally, while embodiments herein may make reference to a GPU, itshould be noted that the described circuits and/or functionality canalso be implemented and other types of processors (e.g., general purposeor other special-purpose coprocessors) or within a CPU.

In one exemplary embodiment, GPU 1010 is operable for General-purposecomputing on graphics processing units (GPGPU) computing. GPU 1010 mayexecute Compute Unified Device Architecture (CUDA) programs and OpenComputing Language (OpenCL) programs. GPU 1010 may thus be used for avariety of computing applications including simulations of moleculardynamics, computational fluid dynamics, reservoir simulations, andfinite structural problems. It is appreciated that the parallelarchitecture of GPU 1010 may have significant performance advantagesover CPU 1001.

System 1000 can be implemented as, for example, a desktop computersystem or server computer system having a powerful general-purpose CPU1001 coupled to a dedicated graphics rendering GPU 1010. In such anembodiment, components can be included that add peripheral buses,specialized audio/video components, IO devices, and the like. Similarly,system 1000 can be implemented as a handheld device (e.g., cellphone,etc.), direct broadcast satellite (DBS)/terrestrial set-top box or aset-top video game console device such as, for example, the Xbox®,available from Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, Wash., or thePlayStation3®, available from Sony Computer Entertainment Corporation ofTokyo, Japan. System 1000 can also be implemented as a “system on achip” (SoC), where the electronics (e.g., the components 1001, 1015,1010, 1014, and the like) of a computing device are wholly containedwithin a single integrated circuit die. Examples include a hand-heldinstrument with a display, a car navigation system, a portableentertainment system, and the like.

In the foregoing specification, embodiments have been described withreference to numerous specific details that may vary from implementationto implementation. Thus, the sole and exclusive indicator of what is theinvention, and is intended by the applicant to be the invention, is theset of claims that issue from this application, in the specific form inwhich such claims issue, including any subsequent correction. Hence, nolimitation, element, property, feature, advantage, or attribute that isnot expressly recited in a claim should limit the scope of such claim inany way. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regardedin an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.

What is claimed is:
 1. A handheld game controller comprising: aplurality of input controls configured to receive user input; networkcircuitry configured for communicating with a game streaming servicethrough a communication network; a processor coupled to the plurality ofinput controls and the network circuitry, wherein the processor isconfigured to communicate with the game streaming service with respectto a game streaming service account and to communicate user inputreceived from the plurality of controls to the game streaming service;and a power source configured to provide power to the plurality of inputcontrols, the network circuitry, and the processor, wherein theprocessor is further configured to: connect wirelessly to a computingdevice to receive network information associated with a wireless accesspoint; disconnect from the computing device and connect to the wirelessaccess point based on the received network information to communicatethrough the communication network with the game streaming service; andcommunicate with the game streaming service via a first connectionthrough the communication network that is separate from a secondconnection used by the game streaming service to communicate to adisplay device.
 2. The handheld game controller of claim 1, wherein theprocessor is configured to communicate user input received from theplurality of controls with the game streaming service withoutrepackaging user input information.
 3. The handheld game controller ofclaim 1 further comprising: an audio interface configured for receivinginput audio and outputting audio.
 4. The handheld game controller ofclaim 1, wherein the processor is configured to communicate user inputreceived from the plurality of controls to the game streaming servicethrough the wireless access point.
 5. The handheld game controller ofclaim 1, wherein the network circuitry is configured for receiving gamefeedback information from the game streaming service.
 6. The handheldgame controller of claim 1, wherein the computing device is asmartphone, tablet, or computer.
 7. The handheld game controller ofclaim 1 further comprising: a memory for storing information associatedwith the game streaming service account and one or more communicationnetworks.
 8. The handheld game controller of claim 1, wherein thedisplay device is configured to receive a plurality of video streams,each of the plurality of video streams associated with a correspondingone of a plurality of handheld game controllers.
 9. A gaming apparatusfor use with a game streaming service, the gaming apparatus comprising:a plurality of input controls; a memory device; a network controllercoupled to the memory device and configured to communicate with the gamestreaming service through a communication network; and a processorcoupled to the plurality of input controls, the memory device, and thenetwork controller, wherein the processor is configured to communicatesignals from the plurality of input controls to the game streamingservice through the network controller, wherein the processor is furtherconfigured to: connect wirelessly to a computing device to receivenetwork information associated with a wireless access point; disconnectfrom the computing device and connect to the wireless access point basedon the received network information to communicate through thecommunication network with the game streaming service; and communicatewith the game streaming service via a first connection through thecommunication network that is separate from a second connection used bythe game streaming service to communicate to a display device.
 10. Thegaming apparatus of claim 9, wherein the processor is configured tocommunicate with the game streaming service through the networkcontroller and independent of any intermediate device to login to a gamestreaming service account.
 11. The gaming apparatus of claim 10, whereinthe processor is configured to communicate with the game streamingservice with respect to the game streaming service account and tocommunicate user input received from the plurality of controls to thegame streaming service through the wireless access point.
 12. The gamingapparatus of claim 9 further comprising an audio interface configuredfor receiving input audio and outputting audio.
 13. The gaming apparatusof claim 12, wherein the audio interface is further configured to outputfirst audio information transmitted from the game streaming serviceduring a game, wherein the first audio information is individualizedspecifically for the gaming apparatus and is different from anotheraudio information transmitted from the game streaming service to aplurality of other gaming apparatuses, wherein the game is jointlycontrolled by the gaming apparatus and the plurality of other gamingapparatuses.
 14. The gaming apparatus of claim 9, wherein the computingdevice to communicate with the game streaming service, wherein thecomputing device comprises is a smartphone, tablet, or computer.
 15. Thegaming apparatus of claim 9, wherein the display device is configured toreceive a plurality of video streams, each of the plurality of videostreams associated with a corresponding one of a plurality of gameapparatus.